160 WINTER ATMOSPHERE. 



any deficiencies on this account chargeable to 

 the earth. 



AMICUS. What of the winter atmosphere of 

 which you speak with so much emphasis? 

 Pray, be a little more explicit. 



PISCATOR. The accidents of light and shadow, 

 the qualities of clouds and mist; it is these 

 I have in mind, and these are hardly to be 

 described, which in the winter season are most 

 remarkable, whether for beauty, as in fine 

 weather with gleams of enlivening sunshine, 

 or for grandeur of effect in bad, in the dark 

 and driving storm. But let me not overpraise 

 winter. It has its drawbacks, even in relation 

 to scenery. There are times, as when the 

 country is covered with snow, that even I 

 cannot praise it. Then the face of nature is 

 dreary and repulsive, monotonously dreary, 

 and chillingly repulsive. Snow may well be 

 called nature's winding sheet! Fortunately, 

 however, as I mentioned on a former occasion, 

 snow-storms are of rare occurrence in che 

 District, and the continuance of snow of short 

 duration. 



AMICUS. You have not spoken of your frozen 

 state ; for, I presume, favoured as you describe 



